Florida Law Schools Take Note: Governor to Shift Funding to Degrees That 'Create Jobs'

In Florida, Gov. Rick Scott has had it with educational programs and majors at his state's universities that do not contribute much to Florida's economy. Scott has now stated that degrees such as psychology and anthropology and potentially even entire schools that focus on a liberal arts curriculum should begin to get the short-end of the state's education funding, HT Politics reports (via Gawker). Indeed, he says that reforming the state's college and university system by shifting funding to degrees that have the best job prospects (i.e., science, technology, engineering and math degrees) will be one of his top priorities in the coming year.

"If I’m going to take money from a citizen to put into education then I'm going to take that money to create jobs," Scott said. "So I want that money to go to degrees where people can get jobs in this state."

"Is it a vital interest of the state to have more anthropologists? I don’t think so."

And Scott is not alone in this view. HT Politics reports that Republican leaders in the state Legislature agree that there is a need to reform the state's universities. Future Senate President Don Gaetz says Florida has become a "second tier" state in attracting companies because universities are not producing the right graduates.

Future anthropology, philosophy and drama majors in Florida are surely not too happy right now. But what about wannabe Florida lawyers? According to Adam Smith, Esq., NALP reports that the job market facing the law school Class of 2010 is the worst in decades, to the point that just 36 percent of all 2010 graduates held a permanent, full-time job that actually required the graduate to pass a state bar.

Thirty-six percent! I wonder if that is higher or lower percentage than the percentage of 2010 anthropology graduates who now hold a permanent, full-time job that actually requires an anthropology degree? If it is lower, then heads up Florida law schools -- the governor may want to have a word with you.

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Florida Law Schools Take Note: Governor to Shift Funding to Degrees That 'Create Jobs'

In Florida, Gov. Rick Scott has had it with educational programs and majors at his state's universities that do not contribute much to Florida's economy. Scott has now stated that degrees such as psychology and anthropology and potentially even entire schools that focus on a liberal arts curriculum should begin to get the short-end of the state's education funding, HT Politics reports (via Gawker). Indeed, he says that reforming the state's college and university system by shifting funding to degrees that have the best job prospects (i.e., science, technology, engineering and math degrees) will be one of his top priorities in the coming year.

"If I’m going to take money from a citizen to put into education then I'm going to take that money to create jobs," Scott said. "So I want that money to go to degrees where people can get jobs in this state."

"Is it a vital interest of the state to have more anthropologists? I don’t think so."

And Scott is not alone in this view. HT Politics reports that Republican leaders in the state Legislature agree that there is a need to reform the state's universities. Future Senate President Don Gaetz says Florida has become a "second tier" state in attracting companies because universities are not producing the right graduates.

Future anthropology, philosophy and drama majors in Florida are surely not too happy right now. But what about wannabe Florida lawyers? According to Adam Smith, Esq., NALP reports that the job market facing the law school Class of 2010 is the worst in decades, to the point that just 36 percent of all 2010 graduates held a permanent, full-time job that actually required the graduate to pass a state bar.

Thirty-six percent! I wonder if that is higher or lower percentage than the percentage of 2010 anthropology graduates who now hold a permanent, full-time job that actually requires an anthropology degree? If it is lower, then heads up Florida law schools -- the governor may want to have a word with you.